Tig welding classic car chassis reinforcement

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 15:25:49 GMT

go to see Welding Machine for Tig classic car chassis reinforcement

All,Thanks for all your past and future help.  I wanted to see if anyone had any opinion on a project I'm about to start.  I have a 1968 BMW 2002.  The problem is that it was made with 20 gauge steel.  45 years has taken it's toll.  When I life the car up, there is enough chassis flex to make it impossible to close or open the doors.  Since I'm doing a frame off restoration, I thought I'd take the opportunity to make a few improvements.  There is a convertible version that has several additional panels added.My dilemma has to do with the type of weld and the panel shape. In particular there is an area in the engine bay.  Here are a few examples of what others have done:The Question:My question is this.  I like the beading, but how much strength does it really add?  I am TIG welding the panel.  Is it better to tee weld the new metal to the frame, bend the sheet metal and lap or plug weld it?
Reply:Originally Posted by heychrisThe Question:My question is this.  I like the beading, but how much strength does it really add?
Reply:You have to love the math car companies use with their cars.  My 1968 BMW was manufactured in 1967 and picked up at the dealership by my grandfather in early 1968.  I've been driving it for the past 20 years.  My goal is to restore it before it's 45th birthday which is a year away.I pretty much knew beading the panel was the right thing to do.  I guess I'm going to have to find some cash to get one.  I wish their was machine shops that rented tools by the hour In Los Angeles.My real question is the welding part of it.  Tee, lap, plug or spot weld?  I've seen the spot welding torches for my Lincoln Tig.  Are those any good?
Reply:[QUOTE= I wish their was machine shops that rented tools by the hour In Los Angeles.I dont' know if this will help  http://www.lazzemetalshaping.com ... d=1&Ite  mid=64
Reply:i cant tell by the picture but are you welding through the primer?  how have you prepped the car?i would probably just put a couple bead rolls in the panel..  probably a couple small ones length wise and a couple vertical beads on the front.. harbor freight sells a bead roller thats actually pretty decent for small panels and it wont break the bank, alot of people buy them and then modifying them making the frame stronger.. might be something you could get to do your smaller panels with, then modify it or sell it when you get done with your project....tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:The two photos are of other people's cars.  My car has been stripped to bare metal and painted with weld through primer.I realize the bead roller is a necessity.  I've been shopping around for a bead roller and it seems the eastwood bead roller sold through eastwood on ebay is the cheapest at $129.  The harbor freight one is $179.Any idea if I should just put a 90 degree bend in each surface and plug weld, or should I just Tee some 18 gauge steel into the stock 20 Gauge steel.
Replyazze's Metal  looks like a pretty sweet setup.  I wish it wasn't a several hundred miles away.  Does anyone know of any other community machine shops or co-ops in Los Angeles?  The Venice community machine shop would be good if it was ever open.
Reply:The 90 deg bend and  plugs or short lap welds would have less chance for distortion then the T weld..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan